as in cowed
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as in intimidated
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
the judge warned the attorney that hectoring the witness with aggressive questioning would not be allowed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hectored
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Jason Sudeikis, Robert Smigel, and George Wendt hectored Kelce to (1) make Taylor pony up for a new stadium and (2) propose already.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hectored
Verb
-
This generation isn’t intimidated by the attention of major brands, nor necessarily impressed by it.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
3 Nov. 2025
-
He's attracted to strong women, not intimidated by them.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An unverified report circulated over the weekend that said Brown claimed Harbour bullied her on set.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The complaint alleges Kalumbula didn't protect the student when other students bullied him for having gay parents.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
So bringing something that’s a little edgier and a little darker feels like the way theater should go, and usually goes when people feel oppressed.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Forget Martha’s Vineyard, poor oppressed victim Ayanna be scooping up Nantucket beachfront.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
And my father—lovable but imposing, a strapping six feet three inches tall with a thick, bristly mustache and a rumbling Sergeant Schultz accent that frightened my friends half to death—loved to tell stories.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Fortune had reported in its investigation that people within the agency were frightened of examining Boring Company after two staffers who worked on the case had been disciplined.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
20 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Mix in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for heat.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Add the scotch and Calvados and some crushed ice, and stir about 10 to 15 seconds, until a small frost begins to show on the outside of the mug.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Not in any way, uh, a downtrodden victim.—
Deborah Unger,
Scientific American,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Much of her derision is reserved for Joe (Adam Godley), her downtrodden husband and more pragmatic partner-in-crime.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hectored.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hectored. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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